Underworld Restaurant Chapter 2

Alt. t.i.tle: 정승 식당
Author: 형상준 (Hyeong Sangjun)

This chapter was:

Translated by: VoidChaos

Edited by: quinnkid

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Kangjin stood in front of a building. A two-storey building in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul.

“We have arrived.”

Shin Sooho stood beside Kangjin who was surveying his surroundings.

He didn't mind if he wasn't able to go to his part-time job today.

Nonhyeon…It's a part of Gangnam, which is famous for its expensive land in Korea. That's where the two-storey building is located, a building that a part-time construction worker will own.

The building's first floor is a restaurant while the second floor is a living quarter.

Kangjin looked around the building.

The road is just up ahead, the building is located on the side of the road… It is small and worn out but it's still close to Nonhyeon station.

In addition, there's a crosswalk right in front of it so people would at least stop by before crossing the street.

Kangjin asked while staring at the building.

“What's the price here?”

“Approximately 2.5 billions.”

“2.5…billions?”

Kangjin's face brightened when he heard the word billion.

‘Amazing… I'm really lucky'

Shin Sooho said to the smiling Kangjin.

“Let's go inside.”

Kangjin smiled at Shin Sooho's words and saw him taking out the keys. He then opened the firmly closed door of the first floor and went inside.

The first floor is a restaurant.

“The first floor is a restaurant while the second floor is the living area.”

Shin Sooho showed him around the restaurant and pointed at the stairs on the side.

“You have to go through here to get to the second floor, there's also an entrance by the door outside. Let's go up to the second floor.”

Kangjin and Shin Sooho climbed up the stairs on the side of the restaurant to get to the second floor.

The second floor looks like a house. There was a slight odor but all in all it was fine.

‘There are three rooms and a kitchen. It's nice.'

Even though the house and its furniture are old, his 8-year-old study room is still no match for it.

Compared to the study room, this place looks like a palace. First of all, it's a house where he can sleep with his legs stretched out.

While Kangjin was looking around, Shin Sooho started laying out papers on the table in the living room.

“If you've seen everything, please come over here.”

Kangjin went near the table and sat down, Shin Sooho who was taking out doc.u.ments then told him.

“Madame Kim Bokrae left an inheritance for Mr. Lee Kangjin in the form of a two-storey building located in Nonhyeon-dong.”

“Ha!”

Shin Sooho saw Kangjin unknowingly let out a laugh.

“Are you going to transfer the property under my name Mr. Lawyer?”

“I will be doing it. But…the official transfer of ownership will be five years from now.”

Kangjin's face was filled with curiosity after what Shin Sooho said.

“Five years later? What do you mean? Aren't you going to give me the inheritance?” 

“What Mr. Lee Kangjin said is correct. It's just that…Madame Kim Bokrae has one condition before she leaves you the inheritance.”

“Condition?”

“You have to run the restaurant on the first floor for five years.”

“Run the restaurant?”

“That's right. Madame Kim Bokrae wishes for Mr. Lee Kangjin to run the restaurant for five years. The transfer of ownership will be done after five years.”

“No, why's that?”

He's not even confident that he can cook well and you're asking him to run a restaurant?

“Also, these are the things you need to do to manage the place.”

Kangjin quickly read the piece of paper handed by the lawyer.

The restaurant should be open starting at 11 o'clock in the evening until 1 o'clock in the morning.Sunday is the designated day-off.Don't kick out people who don't have money.The price of the food is dependent on what the customers will give you.>

When Kangjin read the contents of the paper, he looked at the lawyer blankly.

“Excuse me but…What's this?”

“The restaurant's rules of operation.”

“No…I see.”

Kangjin looked at the lawyer while he was trying to speak.

‘The lawyer has no reason to bulls.h.i.t me but…'

Even if he wishes that this is a joke, why would a lawyer want to play a trick on him.

That's why Kangjin asked again.

“Is this really the operating rules?”

“Correct. If you don't follow those rules, the building will be donated to a social welfare organization.”

“Donate?”

“Yes.”

Kangjin looked incredulously at the lawyer who answered plainly, as he straightened his back and picked up the paper again.

“Which restaurant opens from 11pm to 1am? It's not even a bar, how will I get business? Also, number 3 and 4… what do you mean by the price is dependent on what the customers give and don't kick out people who don't have money? Is this restaurant a soup kitchen[1]?”

“You don't have to do it if you don't want to.”

“I don't have to?”

“We'll donate it to a social welfare organization.”

Kangjin squinted his eyes at the lawyer.

‘Do you think I'm crazy? How can I donate a 2.5 billions-worth building.'

After a brief sigh, Kangjin opened his mouth.

“I have to follow these rules?”

“Yes.” 

“I understand.Then after five years you will transfer the ownership to me?”

“Yes.”

“And you should know that these rules can't really help me run the business efficiently? Also…I don't know if I can cook well.”

He couldn't really say that he can cook since all he eats in the study room is either ramen or a simple fried rice.

“There's nothing in the rules that states you must conduct a profitable business. According to those rules, however, you have to open 6 days a week from 11pm to 1am.”

“I can't do more than that?”

“You just have to follow the rules and everything will be yours, you don't have to worry about anything Mr. Kangjin.”

Sssssk!

The lawyer pulled out some doc.u.ments and put it down on the table.

“If you sign this then the inheritance will be yours.”

Kangjin looked at the doc.u.ments that the lawyer gave him. It contained the legal provisions of the inheritance together with the condition of running the restaurant.

If Shin Sooho determined that Lee Kangjin broke the rules thrice then he will be deprived of the inheritance rights.>

“Deprived of the right to inherit?”

“If you break the rules more than 3 times then you will be deprived of the inheritance.”

“No…What would you do if something happened to the person? What if I get into an accident…Then won't I still be deprived of the inheritance? Also, I'm still a student right now.”

“You don't need to open on Sundays. And if you have any special circ.u.mstances, you have to contact me. At that time, I will send someone to open the store for you.”

“But I have to go do my part-time job to go to university…”

“Mr. Lee Kangjin, our company will provide your full tuition.”

“The tuition too? Is that also included in the inheritance?”

“It's not a part of the inheritance.”

“Then why pay for my tuition?”

“I will tell you about that later, please read the doc.u.ments fully first.”

Shin Sooho once again asked Kangjin to read the doc.u.ments entirely.

Kim Bokrae, a distant grandmother that he didn't even know, gave him a building as an inheritance.

Kangjin nodded with a smile on his face while he read the contract again.

‘Open it for two hours a day… let's hold on for five years, after five years the building will be mine.'

Anyway, it's difficult to make that much money in his lifetime alone. No, for sure he will never earn that amount of money.

And honestly, he doesn't have to do much to get them at all. After nodding, Kangjin signed the doc.u.ments.

Scritch scritch!

Kangjin tilted his head for a moment while signing the doc.u.ments.

He clearly felt something strange when he was finishing signing the doc.u.ment.

“Huh?”

He didn't care that Shin Sooho was looking at him, or that there was a strange feeling as he kept the contract in his bag, all that matters is fortune was pushed his way.

“Please keep it well.”

Shin Sooho handed Kangjin some business cards after he saw him kept the contract.

“And you might need these to start the business.”

Shin Sooho explained while Kangjin hold the business cards.

“Tell them the items that you need and they will supply it to you. Also you can use whatever goods you need from the store; they are free for five years.”

Kangjin looked at Shin Sooho with amazement.

“Free for five years? You're saying that everything is free?”

“As long as it's needed for the store.”

“But why are you providing the supplies for free?”

Kangjin asked Shin Sooho.

“Us siblings are indebted to Madame Kim Bokrae. So we agreed when she asked us to help Mr. Lee Kangjin with the store. And that includes your tuition fee too.”

“These presidents are Mr. Lawyer's brothers?”

“Yes.”

Shin Sooho's simple answer made Kangjin look at the business cards again.

‘Well, their names have similarities.'

“Do you have any more questions?”

“Do you have any employees already working here?”

He was thinking that it would be really comfortable if there were previous employees working in the store.

“There weren't any employees.”

Kangin smacked his lips at Shin Sooho's answer.

‘Well, if they're doing their business like this, it's no wonder that they can't hire any employees.'

He muttered to himself.

“So when should I start to open the store?”

“Starting today.”

“Today? Like this day?”

“It was written in the contract.”

Kangjin immediately took out the contract the moment Shin Sooho finished his words.

“No, I need the time to move and prepare things…Can I even open right away…?” 

“I'm just telling you the contents of the contract.”

“Then can you please send a person today, today I…”

“This is not considered to be a special circ.u.mstance.” 

Sssk! 

Shin Sooho got up from his seat and put down the keys.

“The five years starts now. Well then…”

Shin Sooho bowed at Kangjin who was following him with his eyes. 

Then he suddenly asked.

“But how will you know if I opened today or not? Are you going to spy on me?”

Kangjin questioned Shin Sooho who was staring at him. 

“I'll know if you don't open for business, I'll contact you by then.”

Sssk! 

And then, Shin Sooho opened the door and left as if there were no more questions that needed to be answered.

Kangjin looked briefly at Shin Sooho's disappearing back when he took out the contract.

“Anyway…”

Swoosh!

Kangjin looked around the house.

“This will be my home for five years.”

He can think about selling it after five years, but for now he doesn't have to worry about rent.

That alone was the best lotto for Kangjin.

***End of Chapter 2***

Footnotes:

[1] Soup Kitchen: a place that serves free food.